BREAKING: £12 million Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang Leaves Chelsea On Free Transfer?—Chelsea are likely to let Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang leave on a free transfer this summer, according to reports.
Aubameyang joined Chelsea in a £12 million deal from Barcelona on deadline day last September and was handed a lucrative two-year contract worth in the region of £160,000 a week.
But the 33-year-old, who joined just days before Thomas Tuchel’s sacking, has struggled to make an impact at Stamford Bridge, scoring just three goals in 21 appearances this season.
According to The Telegraph, Barcelona, Atletico Madrid and AC Milan are all considering moves for Aubameyang this summer but are unwilling to pay a transfer fee for the striker.
The report claims that Chelsea are therefore likely to allow Aubameyang to leave on a free transfer in order to get him off the wage bill.
A source told the newspaper: ‘Selling these players will be much easier said than done. Look at how they’ve played this season and how much money they earn. Also the markets that Chelsea have traditionally sold to in Italy and Spain now have financial issues.’
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang struggled to make an impact in Chelsea’s 3-1 defeat to Arsenal on Tuesday (EPA)
Aubameyang returned to Arsenal on Tuesday evening but was hauled off at half time as Chelsea lost 3-1 to Mikel Arteta’s side.
But when asked about Aubameyang’s performance, Frank Lampard refused to criticise the ex-Arsenal captain.
‘I’m not going to comment on individuals in the game. I’ll talk about a collective and it’s the performance,’ Lampard said.